Guest Column by Darrell Dunn, Editor, The Weekly Bean.
The question of whether Alberta separatists are “taking over” the United Conservative
Party (UCP) has become a recurring feature of Alberta’s political conversation. It is a
provocative framing, and like most provocative framings, it contains a grain of truth wrapped in
a larger exaggeration. Separatists have undeniably become more visible and organized within the
UCP’s grassroots, but that is not the same thing as a full-scale takeover of the party.
The UCP was created in 2017 as a “big tent” conservative coalition, uniting former
Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose members. From the beginning, it housed a wide range
of views: Red Tories, libertarians, social conservatives, populists, and Western alienation
activists. Separatism was never central to the party’s platform, but it has always existed on the
fringes of Alberta conservative politics, flaring up during periods of economic stress or intense
federal-provincial conflict. What has changed in recent years is not the existence of separatist
sentiment, but its organization, confidence and volume.
Separatist-leaning activists have had some success inside UCP party structures,
particularly at annual general meetings and in board elections. These wins matter symbolically.
They demonstrate that a motivated faction, even a minority one, can exert influence in a party
that relies heavily on grassroots engagement. However, influence is not the same as control.
Separatists do not dominate the party executive, they do not control caucus, and they do not set
official policy. The party’s leadership remains softly committed, at least publicly, to Alberta
remaining within Canada.
Premier Danielle Smith herself is central to this dynamic. Smith frequently adopts
language about Alberta “standing up to Ottawa,” defending provincial jurisdiction, and resisting
federal overreach. Critics argue that this rhetoric creates space for separatism to grow, even if it
stops short of endorsing independence. Supporters counter that asserting provincial rights is not
separatism, but federalism functioning as intended. Smith has consistently stated that she does
not support Alberta leaving Canada, and the UCP’s official platform does not include separation.
Where the issue becomes more complicated is at the level of tone and political incentives.
Separatist activism energizes a portion of the conservative base, particularly voters who feel
economically marginalized or culturally dismissed by national politics. While most Albertans
still favor remaining in Canada, frustration with federal policies—on energy, climate,
equalization, and regulation—has deepened. Some UCP members flirt with the idea of a
referendum not because they necessarily expect Alberta to separate, but because they see it as
leverage in negotiations with Ottawa. That ambiguity allows separatist narratives to circulate
without being fully embraced or fully shut down.
Claims that separatists are “taking over” the UCP often come from two directions. On
one side, critics of the party point to the growing visibility of independence rhetoric as evidence
of extremism. On the other, separatist activists themselves often exaggerate their own influence
to project momentum and legitimacy. The reality sits somewhere in between. Separatists have
gained a louder voice within the party, but they remain a minority faction competing with many others for influence. They do however, receive much attention thanks in part to American
influences.
The more accurate story, then, is not takeover but tension. The UCP is experiencing an
internal struggle over identity: Is it primarily a pragmatic governing party focused on economic
management, or a populist movement channeling anger toward the federal government?
Separatism is part of that struggle, but it is not the whole of it. How the party resolves that
tension—by marginalizing separatist elements, accommodating them rhetorically, or allowing
them further institutional footholds—will shape Alberta politics in the years ahead.
In short, Alberta separatists are not running the UCP. But they are no longer knocking at
the door either. They are inside the room, testing how far their influence can reach, while the
party’s leadership tries to keep the coalition intact without letting it fracture along constitutional
lines.
The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial position of The Border Pulse.
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